The change in school timings ordered by the School Education Department has evoked widespread criticism, with parents and civil society saying the department of education was torturing students only for ensuring a hassle-free traffic for bureaucrats.
The Directorate of School Education Kashmir (DSEK) on Mondayordered that schools within the municipal limits of Srinagar would operate from8.30 am to 2.30 pm and the schools outside Srinagar municipal limits and otherareas will be functional from 9.30am to 3.30pm from 1 May 2019.
The timings were changed a week ahead of the Durbar Movefrom Jammu to Srinagar. The civil secretariat offices are scheduled to resumework from May 6 here.
“New timings are only meant for smooth travel ofbureaucrats. Why can’t offices start before 9 am?” asked Muhammad Abbas, aparent from Soura, Srinagar.
The parents said the change in school timings will tell uponthe health of the students and will prove detrimental for them in the longerrun.
“It will be hectic to prepare kids for schools so early,”Abbas said.
Another parent, Ashiq Hussain, from Baghaat area of Srinagarsaid the timings would be especially “cruel” for kindergarten children.
An estimated 80 per cent of the students are ferried inbuses and vans to and from schools.
“As per the new school timing, kids are supposed to wake upat 5:30 am and reach their bus stop around 6:30 am. This will wreck their sleepand health,” said Muhammad Akram, whose kid studies in LKG at a school 10kmsaway from his residence.
It takes more than two hours for some buses to pick and dropkids to school and home.
Meanwhile, the Private Schools’ Association of Jammu andKashmir (PSA&K) has also expressed its resentment over the change in theschool timing, especially for primary classes.
“How can we expect our kids to grow up well when they willhave to face this torture every day along with their parents,” said ChairmanPSAJK GN Var.
Var termed the new school timing a “crackdown on thestudents” and said the early morning timing was suitable for only hot climatezones.
“We live in temperate region but the government is adamantto ensure smooth travel of bureaucrats at the cost of health of students,” hesaid.
Var also said the department has changed the school timingwithout taking on board the stakeholders.
“Earlier, it was agreed with concerned departments that anychange in school timing will be done after consultation with private schools’association and parents, but they have unilaterally taken the harsh decisionwhich is unacceptable,” Var said.
Director School Education Kashmir (DSEK) Muhammad YounisMalik said the school timing was changed keeping in view the previous practiceof the department.
“The timing was changed from May 1 in previous years and Ifollowed the same practice,” he said.
Last year, the school education department changed theschool timing on May 15, fixing it from 9am to 3 pm for Srinagar schools.